NOAA predicts busy hurricane season

NOAA anticipates above-average chance of storms

GALVESTON - The nation's climate agency on Thursday predicted an above-normal 2017 hurricane season with 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine of them hurricanes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a 45 percent chance of the hurricane season that begins June 1 being above normal, a 35 percent chance of a normal season and a 20 percent chance of a below-normal season. An average season is 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The agency said it expected two to four of the hurricanes to be Category 3 or higher.

"The outlook reflects our expectation of a weak or non-existent El Niño, near- or above-average sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea and average or weaker-than-average vertical wind shear in that same region," said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

Bell said a strong El Niño causes more intense wind shear, which tends to break up tropical disturbances before they can grow into a hurricane. He cautioned that chances were 50-50 that a stronger El Niño could develop later in the hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.

Predictions probable

He said NOAA's predictions had a 70 percent chance of being correct. NOAA plans to update its outlook in early August, shortly before the peak of the hurricane season.

NOAA's predictions follow two earlier forecasts, one by Colorado State University and one by The Weather Co.

Colorado State University in April predicted 11 named storms, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Bell said NOAA does not issue an April prediction because conditions could significantly change by June. The university is scheduled to issue a revised prediction June 1.

The Weather Co. on May 22 predicted 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

All three predictions include Tropical Storm Arlene, a rare pre-season storm that formed in April.

Get prepared

The United States has had a long run of good luck, said Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator. "It's been a record 12 years since a Category 3 or higher storm has hit the United States, Friedman said.

A Category 3 storm has winds of 111 mph to 129 mph.

"Regardless of how many storms develop this year, it only takes one to disrupt our lives," said Robert Fenton, acting Federal Emergency Management Administration administrator.

Fenton advised coastal residents to prepare for hurricane season by having a family discussion about what to do, where to go and how to communicate among family members when a storm threatens. He also said it's important to know the evacuation route, tune into local news or download an app from FEMA at www.fema.gov/mobile-app that issues alerts.

Harvey Rice worked at several other news organizations before joining the Houston Chronicle, including the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the Mexico City News, El Financiero and UPI. While working for UPI, he was stationed in Mexico City; Washington, D.C.; Miami and London. After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1999, he covered Montgomery County and the federal courthouse in Houston before being assigned to the Galveston Bureau in 2007. He also was sent to Qatar to cover U.S. Central Command during the second Gulf War and was a member of the Enron investigative team.